Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 731

I don't take any part at all in the campaign in the city. I don't remember doing it. If I did, it was superficial. I probably went to a number of meetings - that I would do anyhow - because I remember seeing her on the platform.

In December 1925 Olvaney resigned from Tammany Hall and John Curry came in as leader. I knew John Curry better than I knew any other leader of Tammany Hall. In 1926 I became Chairman of the Industrial Board. At that time Hamilton, the Bronx schoolteacher who was a total loss, was Industrial Commissioner. He was alleged to have influence in the Bronx. I suppose Ed Flynn got him the post. He was a good speaker and speech-maker. But he was a very practical and incompetent person who didn't pay any attention to the Labor Department. He was always making speeches to odds and ends of society about one thing or another. He was Commissioner and just didn't do anything. He was supposed to do all the executive work in the department, but had nothing to say about the quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative matters. He did nothing about the department and was so difficult that Al couldn't deal with him and couldn't get anything out of him. He'd say, “Oh yes” and then he'd never do anything. Al never knew whether he was going to do it or wasn't going to do it.





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help